Do you feel this way about life?
By scheng1
@scheng1 (24649)
Singapore
April 11, 2010 7:14am CST
One paragraph in a buddhism book causes me to ask question about the kind of life we want.
This paragraph is very long. I take the liberty to subdivide into smaller paragraphs for easier reading.
It says:
Have we stopped to contemplate our priorities in life? Or have we just gone along with the flow, in which cse our top priority is usually doing what we think other people think we should do.
We try to be what we think other people think we should be, and we want to have what we think other people think we should have.
Without stopping to consider what is of value in life and our priorities, we live in chaos from day to day: running here, running there, doing this, doing that. Never finding any actual peace of mind, we keep ourselves extraordinarily busy doing many things without considering why we are doing them.
Like little nice that scamper around on treadmills or the turkeys that run around the Abbey, we flutter around feeling that what we're doing is important and essential.
But is it? We say, "I have to do this and that." Do we have to or do we choose to? It's as if we were ona merry-go-round that we never get off of because we're afraid to get off.
We don't know what it's like to stand still and thinking of it makes us edgy. Even though circling on the merry-go-round makes us sick to our stomach, it's familiar and so we stay with it.
it's not getting us anywhere, but we've never stopped to question where we are and where we could be."
This paragraph is taken from The 37 Practices of Bodhisattvas commentary by Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron, a book for free distribution. You can download your free copy by searching for the author or the buddhist organization that I get the free book.
This organization is Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery.
Back to the discussion, is this the way you feel about life too? Do you think we can ever live life the way we want?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
11 Apr 10
That is an excellent comparison of life and I totally agree. People do not change because they feel safe knowing what they are doing. If they changed something who knows what would happen. I feel everyone can change their life if they choose to change. I mostly do what I feel I should do in order to have time with my kids. We do things together, even if it is just swinging. The other day I took them to a playground that provided trikes and scooters. For the first time in my life I rode a scooter that you pushed with your feet. I chased the kids and they chased me. Should I have been doing something else? Probably. I still have laundry to put away. LOL
People have to choose what is important to them. If their lifestyle is making them sick then they need to decide between being healthy and happy or stressed and fitting in. I've never been one to "fit in" unless I think what is being done would suit my personal welfare or needs. That's why I still live in a cave. I don't have to worry about buying vacuum cleaners or keeping the floor clean. HAHAHA.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
12 Apr 10
haha Mommaj, you really are funny. I cannot imagine you chasing your kids.
I bet you lose if you play catching with them oh. Fortunately you have not considered climbing trees oh. Otherwise you will suffer from a blue-black backside and needs to pay for the hole in the ground.
I think those bears in the cave can help you with the laundry oh. Just let them hang around the neck and breath in and out. The wet laundry will dry very fast, and perfumed with the breath of the beastly bears.
1 person likes this
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
11 Apr 10
For me, it's a need to work because i have a plan. I feel i can get off this merry-go-round anytime and move to another if i want to and if it's needed for my next step.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
12 Apr 10
Hi Frontvisions, not many people are as happy and free as you.
Most people are stuck in a deadend job, yet they must stay on the job, and suffer abuse from their bosses.
They fear losing their jobs, and they can only retire when they cannot work anymore. I cannot imagine the kind of frustration they feel. It's fortunate that I am not in their shoes.
1 person likes this
@AnythngArt (3302)
• United States
11 Apr 10
Hi Scheng, I wondered where you have been. Sitting under a tree, lotus flower in hand? Contemplating the meaning of life? You are right. We are too busy with the busy-ness of life, instead of focusing on what we really want from life.
The biggest hurdle to most things are twofold in my opinion. First is what our parents set us up for. I think our earliest years and how we were treated will influence how we experience life in its totality. The second is how dependent we are on other people's opinions. This one is hard to escape.
In American culture, we value individuality, but then everyone copies it. We are a culture of "fitting in." For example, we care about how we dress, what our friends think, etc. So many things we do or want are because of what we think society expects (via what we see in magazines, on TV, in the movies). It's silly, but there is a lot of pressure to conform. Yet only by finding our truest self can we be happy. It's a dilemma.






@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
12 Apr 10
Hi Art, actually the author is an American. She holds a post-graduate qualification.
She did mention in her book about the dilemma of conforming and trying to be individual. That is really stupid. How can anyone balance between conformity and individuality.
I haven't been sitting under a tree or having time to look at the sky. Been quite busy with life. Lotus flower is so expensive and inedible. I rather spend my money on food.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
11 Apr 10
Excellent questions!
Here are a couple more:
Are we doing what really counts with our life? Are we doing things in life that will assure happiness now and for the eternal future?
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
12 Apr 10
Hi 1hopefulman, these are extremely tough questions to answer. I would say it is impossible to answer the questions.
Sometimes, what counts for us may not be beneficial for those around us. Some parents think that they are doing their duties by sending their kids to the best schools, and enjoy them in many courses.
However, their kids feel miserable, and forever scarred by the stress and pressure of their childhood.
1 person likes this


